Self-adhering perspiration diverter

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for obstructing a downward flow of fluid from entering the eyes of a wearer by diverting the fluid to the side of the wearer&#39;s face where it is discharged and continues in a downward flow having bypassed the wearer&#39;s eyes is provided. A flexible, arch-shaped, nonabsorbent substrate includes an adhesive lower inside region and a non-adhesive upper inside region. When the substrate is adhered to the wearer&#39;s forehead skin the adhesive lower inside region forms a fluid tight seal and the non-adhesive upper inside region, in combination with the wearer&#39;s forehead, forms a fluid diverting channel with a V-shaped cross section.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to the technical field of sweatbands for the head. More specifically, the present invention relates to the technical field of nonabsorbent devices designed to divert a downward flow of perspiration out of the path of a wearer's eyes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In attempt to keep sweat from the forehead out of ones eyes during perspiration inducing activities people often wear conventional sweatbands made of absorbent materials that fully loop around their heads. Conventional sweatbands have the problems of insulating the wearer's head thereby increasing the need to sweat, being constrictive thereby inhibiting blood flow and being uncomfortable to the wearer, disheveling the wearer's hair, and most defeating to the original purpose during prolonged use they often become saturated with perspiration and begin to drip in the wearer's eyes thereby losing primary effectiveness and causing detriment to performance and safety. Some innovations have attempted to solve the saturation problem of conventional sweatbands by presenting band devices that redirect the sweat around the eyes instead of absorbing it above the eyes. These redirecting band devices remain too rigid and constrictive to be comfortable, still have an insulating effect, do not form a reliable fluid tight seal against the wearer's forehead allowing sweat to leak behind the device and continue to drip in the eyes of the wearer and they perform inadequately by spilling over the front of the devices due to shallow sweat redirecting channels. The band redirecting devices are complicated to manufacture and also require cleaning after each use to remain sanitary. A need exists for a nonabsorbent, non-insulating, non-constrictive, non-band design sweat diverter that forms a fluid tight seal against the wearer's skin and has no rigidity in the structure of the diverter that may be uncomfortable or cause the device to pull away due to movement of the skin. This more minimal diverter should be easy and inexpensive to mass produce and may be discarded as compost after each use allowing for a sterile diverter for each new application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method and apparatus for obstructing a downward flow of fluid originating from a wearer's forehead from entering the eyes of the wearer by diverting the fluid to the temples of the wearer and discharging the fluid where it continues to flow down the sides of the wearer's face having bypassed the wearer's eyes. One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a flexible, nonabsorbent, arch-shaped substrate having a lower inside region with an adhesive capable of forming a fluid tight seal when applied to skin, and a non-adhesive upper inside region, when configured on the wearer's forehead the non-adhesive upper inside region, in combination with the wearer's forehead, form a fluid diverting channel with a V-shaped cross section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wearer's face with the preferred embodiment of the diverter as applied in a functional configuration;

FIG. 2. shows a side view of the present invention as configured and applied to a wearer's forehead;

FIG. 3. is a perspective view showing the present invention in functional configuration absent a wearer;

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the present invention in a flat and unconfigured position;

FIG. 5 is and enlarged cross section view of the diverter's channel that is formed when configured, taken from FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the components of the diverter in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, in FIGS. 1-6 show a releasably adhesive forehead fluid diverter apparatus 54, which is constructed of a flat, arch-shaped, flexible, nonabsorbent substrate 52, that includes an inward facing first surface 44 and an outward facing, non-adhesive second surface 56. The inward facing first surface 44 includes a non-adhesive upper region 32 with a non-adhesive distance 66 and a pressure sensitive adhesive lower region 34 with an adhesive distance 70. As shown in FIG. 4, the non-adhesive distance 66 is greater than the adhesive distance 70. The arch-shaped substrate includes an upper edge 40 and a lower edge 42. The arch-shape of the substrate is defined by the upper edge 40 being longer than the lower edge 42. As shown in FIG. 6, before application of the diverter to the wearer's skin, the inward facing first surface 44, and more specifically the adhesive lower region 34 is covered by a first release liner 74 and a second release liner 76.

To use the first embodiment of the diverter apparatus 54, the first and second release liners 74, 76 are peeled back from the inward facing first surface 44 while positioning the diverter 54 for application to the wearer's forehead 60 slightly above the wearer's eyebrows 62, as shown in FIGS. 1-2. As the pressure sensitive adhesive lower inside region 34 is releasably applied to the skin of the wearer, a fluid tight seal 33 is formed, a slight bend forms at the upper point of adhesion 72, and the upper edge 40 above the non-adhesive upper inside region 32 pulls away from the skin, and in combination with the skin, forms a channel 50 with a V-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 5.

Once the diverter 54 has been configured into the channel forming structure, as shown in FIG. 3 upon the forehead of the wearer, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, a downward flow of fluid 46 enters the channel 50, where it is obstructed by the fluid tight seal 33, and is diverted sideways 68 to a first discharge region 36 and a second discharge region 38 where the fluid exits 48 significantly in front of the wearer's ears 58 and continues to flow down the sides of the wearer's face having bypassed the wearer's eyes 64.

The construction details of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1-6 are that the diverter apparatus 54 may be made from one piece of any flexible nonabsorbent substrate such as but not limited to, vinyl, EVA, PVC, acrylic, silicone and preferably a substrate that is hypoallergenic, skin compatible and biodegradable. The arch-shape of the diverter 54 may be made by die-cutting, stamping, laser cutting, extruded, or any other shaping technique known to those skilled in the art. The pressure sensitive adhesive 34 may consist of any adhesive capable of releasably forming a fluid tight seal 33 to human skin such as acrylic and silicone-based gels but preferably an adhesive that is hydrophobic, hypoallergenic, skin compatible, biodegradable and perhaps perspiration activated. The two release liners 74, 76 may be made of a wax coated paper or any treated substrate that will not b to the adhesive lower inside 34 of the diverter 54.

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that it is not a fluid absorbing device and therefore will not saturate and then continue to drip fluids into the eyes 64 of the wearer. It will continue to obstruct and divert the downward flow of fluids around the wearer's eyes 64 regardless of duration of use. Also, with less than one square inch of skin obscuration, the present invention 54 is substantially non-insulating and therefore does not contribute to the cause of perspiration itself. Also, since half of the fluid channel 50 is comprised of the wearer's own skin, there is a more direct cooling effect from the close proximity of evaporation of the fluid 68 in the channel 50. Also, the present invention is of a non-constrictive, non-band design and could therefore be significantly more comfortable to the wearer while not restricting blood flow in the head or disheveling the wearer's hair. Also, by being wholly non-rigid substrate 52 and directly adhered, the diverter 54 flexes with skin movement alleviating chafing and itching and a leak-behind effect by creating a reliable fluid tight seal 33 against the wearer's forehead 60. Also, using biodegradable materials allows for one-time usage without hassle of cleaning and use of detergent; no toting of sweat drenched grimy headbands and every new application is sterile. Also, the simple and efficient design of the present invention allows for a more direct flow of fluids to bypass the wearer's eyes 64 than any previous invention.

Another advantage of the present invention is the minimal profile and inconspicuous appearance. The present diverter 54 also works well in conjunction with hats, helmets and glasses. Also, the present invention is simple and cheap to produce and packaging options include laying flat.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A method and apparatus for diverting a downward flow of fluid from the forehead away from the eyes of a wearer, to be worn above the eyebrows, comprising a flexible, nonabsorbent, arc-shaped substrate having an adhesive lower inside region capable of forming a fluid tight seal when applied to skin, and a non-adhesive upper inside region, when configured on the wearer's forehead the non-adhesive upper inside region, in combination with the wearer's forehead, form a fluid diverting channel with a V-shaped cross section.
 2. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein when attached to the wearer's forehead, a configuration is formed in which the adhesive lower inside region transitions to an upper edge that extends out away from contact with the wearer's skin.
 3. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the arc-shape of the substrate is defined by an upper edge that is longer than a lower edge.
 4. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the curve of the lower edge approximates the curve of the human forehead between the temporal regions.
 5. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diverting apparatus is made from a single piece of flat material.
 6. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adhesive lower inside region is attached to a wearer's forehead above the wearer's eyebrows.
 7. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is chosen from a class of adhesives with all or some of the following qualities: skin compatible, hypoallergenic, hydrophobic, perspiration-activated, gas permeable and biodegradable.
 8. The diverting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate is chosen from a class of substrates with all or some of the following qualities: nonabsorbent, flexible, skin compatible, hypoallergenic, hydrophobic, perspiration-activated, gas permeable and biodegradable. 